Tuesday’s Headlines Explain Why Streets Aren’t Safe
Poor street design, gentrification and the trend toward bigger, heavier cars are all contributing to the rise in pedestrian deaths, according to author Jessie Singer.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on July 25, 2023
- Slate interviews author Jessie Singer about why U.S. streets are getting more dangerous for pedestrians. Hint: bigger cars and people who can’t afford cars being pushed out into auto-centric suburbs.
- Electric vehicles might eliminate tailpipe emissions, but their tires are sending more toxic particles into the air. (The Atlantic)
- The Biden administration distributed $20 million in transit planning grants to 47 communities with persistently high poverty. (Roads & Bridges)
- Contrary to what one San Francisco alderman says, bike lanes don’t cause pollution. (Outside. Streetsblog CAL)
- Frustration with the Portland Bureau of Transportation is growing after a week in which drivers killed eight people. (Bike Portland)
- The Houston Metro is moving ahead with expansion despite lackluster sales tax revenue projections. (Chronicle)
- Phoenix is considering reducing the minimum parking spaces required at apartment complexes. (AZ Family)
- Washington, D.C. started Monday using bus-mounted cameras to catch drivers in bus-only lanes. (DC News Now)
- Protected bike lanes are coming to Pittsburgh’s Penn Avenue. (Tribune-Review)
- A WBUR podcast discusses how to make Boston streets safer.
- The weather is so hot in Arizona that people are getting burned by sidewalks. (WPTV)
- After Germany started selling a cheap unlimited train ticket, train rides rose 27 percent while car trips fell by 100,000 a month. (City Lab)
- Montreal safety advocates created a human bike path on Parc Avenue, where two cyclists have been killed in the past 10 years. (Gazette)
Blake Aued has been doing Streetsblog's daily national news digest for years. He's also an Atlanta Braves fan, which enrages his editor in New York.
Read More:
Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.
More from Streetsblog USA
Talking Headways Podcast: The Logistics of Package Delivery
Benjamin Fong on out how e-commerce companies like Amazon have built their logistics systems and the difficulty of last-mile delivery.
April 30, 2026
Survey Says: Empathy Is the Key To Getting Motorists to Drive Safer
Too many drivers are blind to their own role in the traffic violence crisis. Could human stories finally get them to pay attention?
April 30, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Fight for Your Rights
Louisiana v. Callais is not going to work out well for anyone who supports transit or equity in transportation.
April 30, 2026
Commentary: This Bike Month, Let’s Pedal More to Cut Pain at the Pump
As gas prices set record highs, biking is a cost-effective (and fun!) alternative
April 30, 2026
S.F. Advocates Mark One Year of Speed Cameras
Now, San Francisco: do the other things a city needs to make streets safe.
April 29, 2026